To what extent is humor appropriate for dealing with the VT shootings?

[Ignacio Upton]

I don't believe in joking about the shooting itself, but I personally think it is alright to joke about people who want to exploit it. Unfortunately, I need to be more careful in how I express myself on that. For example, I posted a photoshop pic of "Cho vs. Fred Phelps" to express my outrage at Phelps and his ilk wanting to protest the funerals of the victims. However, the responses to the thread were negative, so I deleted the pic in response (the thread itself was then deleted by a moderator, and if this thread is inappropriate as well, then I'm fine with it being deleted if the moderator deems it as such.) Does anyone have any suggestions for humor that can be appropriate for this topic? I don't think the outright crass humor that I've seen on other sites is appropriate, but I also believe that humor is helpful to make light of a situation.

[mark414]

1. "Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion...

I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward."

- Kurt Vonnegut

[Ignacio Upton]

2. LOL! (Pun intended)

:D

[Checkstub]

3. Very little so far, but it's inevitable.

* I post this knowing full well I'm probably gonna get Canadian Bacon, Onion, and Green Pepper*...
A Korean storms into a gun shop...

[QMPMom]

4. I don't think it is appropriate at all. There are 33 people dead.

It's not a joking matter. I have yet to hear a joke or anything humorous about Columbine and I am glad that I haven't.

[GenDem]

5. It's just not the right time

....and may never be right. I noticed on The Jon Stewart Show they are not even touching it -- not even to mock the media.
It's just too raw and painful.

[dr.strangelove]

6. I find humor a great way to deal with tragedy

I often try to make jokes about tragedy. It helps me get through the sadness. Whatever helps you get through the sadness. To me to argue with someone over taste is silly. some people think the best way to honor someone who died is to visit a funeral parlor, say a prayer over their body, later visit a grave, send flowers or make a donation in their name. If any these help, by all means do it. But to suggest that making a joke is not an appropriate way to deal with this is silly to me. I heard some great humor on the radio yesterday about how the killer was crazy because he was a typical college nerd who not getting enough sex and that young college women should be more free sexually with geeks and nerds to prevent future attacks. Its classic "theater of the absurd". Did I find that offensive, of course not. It was meant to be ridiculous. It made me laugh, when to be honest, I needed a joke. That is not taking away anything from the sadness I feel for the family and friends of the victims, and those that survived. To me, a joke is an okay way to deal with tragedy. I may not get every joke, but if someone else does, good for them.

[Checkstub]

7. Humor comes inevitably for something this bad,

and it's probably way too soon. I feel behind the times though, because I don't have one yet...

[stuntcat]

8. "Laughing and crying, you know it's the same release" - Joni

I remember that quote from a Joni M song almost every day because beautiful things sometimes make me cry and then big dramatic things make me start to laugh (it's a nervous laugh and I'm kinda mental anyway but it always reminds me of that lyric)
HOWEVER I am not ready to laugh about anything to do with this shooting.. even though I laugh at Death all the time all I can do for those students and their families is cry.

[MissMillie]

9. I think it's too soon for humor

but yes, sometimes finding something to laugh about can be very helpful.